Destination Faster

The Lowdown: Beer and Running

Beer and running naturally go together. Runners love a post run cold one, right? Races are sponsored by beer companies, we get complimentary ones after we cross the finish line, group runs meet at bars. The list goes on but does that mean you should be throwing them back? Check out these pros and cons to the post workout beer.

Socializing. There’s one thing runners love as much as running and that’s talking about running. Post race recaps in real time with your friends is something everyone looks forward to and they’re fueled by booze. Isn’t that why running clubs were invented in the first place? It’s true. Downing a cold one is a great way to connect with connect with other runners.

Health benefits. Beer can help you turn carbs into energy with its B vitamins and chromium while the flavonoids in dark beer counter cell damage to help prevent heart disease and cancer. It can also help you relax and that’s all good news for pairing beer and running together.

Hydration. Beer is alcoholic and alcohol is a diuretic. That means it helps take water out of you without replacing it. That’s bad news when your body is trying to work hard or repair itself.

Sleep. Since beer dehydrates you, it makes you use the restroom more. That means disrupted sleep and less quality recovery as you fail to reach deeper sleep states. It might also make you snore, which only serves to make your sleep even lower in quality. Poor sleep leaves us grumpy in the morning, too, making it harder to get a good workout in the next day.

Gains. Human growth hormone is what makes us stronger and faster. It is produced when we’re in those deep sleep states alcohol keeps us out of. Alcohol will also delay almost any healing process so backing off when you’re injured is key for getting back in action. The carbs in beer are automatically stored as fat since the sugar raises our blood sugar levels. That leads to major potential for weight gain.

In the end it depends what your goals are. Was it a recovery run just to get your legs moving? Go ahead, drink that delicious post run beer but have a water with it. Did you just destroy a brutal strength and speed session? That beer might not be the best idea. Knowing the effects of alcohol on your can help you might the right beer and running choices.